Why are Criminal Defense Lawyers Important?
Like most people, you probably go about your life without thinking that you might have to go through the criminal justice system one day. However, life is hardly as simple and predictable as we would love it to be, and one day you find yourself faced with a criminal charge in the Atlanta area.
What do you do?
Who do you seek for professional guidance and assistance?
Well, the answer always boils down to a criminal defense lawyer. And here, we are going to look at who is a criminal defense lawyer and their importance whenever you are facing a criminal charge.
Who Is a Criminal Defense Lawyer?
A criminal defense attorney is an individual who is licensed to practice law and specializes in representing people facing criminal charges. In the United States, we have two categories of criminal defense lawyers, namely;
- A public defender. This is a criminal defense attorney the government pays to represent individuals who can’t afford a private defender.
- A private defender. This is a criminal defense attorney that you hire privately to offer their services.
Role of a Criminal Defense Attorney
A criminal defense attorney fulfills several crucial mandates that are definitely worth it for a criminal defendant. These roles include:
- Providing advice on your best legal options
- Ensuring the right due process is followed
- Interviewing witnesses and collecting evidence for your case
- Examining evidence presented by the prosecutor
- Advocating for you in court
- Interacting with prosecutors
- Representing you in all court-scheduled hearings
- Offering support during interviews with the police or prosecutor
- Preparing and presenting your bail application
Benefits of Hiring a Defense Lawyer
Given the all-important roles of criminal defense lawyers, they offer many benefits you cannot ignore whenever you face criminal charges. These benefits include:
Ensuring your rights are protected at all times
Your rights do not cease to exist when you are charged with a criminal offense. On the contrary, you remain innocent until proven guilty, and having a criminal defense attorney will help ensure your rights are protected. These rights include, among others:
- The right to a fair trial
- The right to remain silent and have counsel during all proceedings
- The right against unjustified seizures and searches
- The right to a speedy trial
- The right to an impartial jury
- The right to know all charges and evidence against you
- The right to leave if you are not under arrest
Fighting to ensure the best outcome for your case
The criminal justice system serves its purpose by following a well-established due process to ensure a fair justice process. A criminal defense attorney comes into the picture as the professional ensuring that all the best legal options are considered at every step so that you can have the best outcome possible.
Essentially, this means presenting and arguing your case in a way that works to your advantage. And this could mean so many things, including; avoiding going to trial, avoiding imprisonment, getting a reduced prison sentence, or getting a lower bail amount.
Note: No criminal defense lawyer can guarantee a particular outcome for your case but strive to explore the best legal angles for a favorable outcome.
Expertly steering you through the criminal justice system
When going through the criminal justice system, nothing beats having a seasoned professional help simplify the complexity of the law for you, and this is exactly what a criminal defense lawyer in Atlanta will do for you. This way, at any particular moment, you can be confident that you understand your case well, know the available legal options, and what each option could lead to.
As a defendant, this means less stress and worry about how you will manage each stage of your case. An extra plus is you have a professional who can evaluate the prosecutor’s approach to the case and use available weaknesses to try to get a more favorable outcome.
Guidance on your available legal options
Besides simplifying the law for you, a criminal defense attorney will offer guidance on the best steps to take depending on the evidence available and the facts of your case. This includes determining your best legal defenses and advising you on the implications of a guilty plea if it is a viable option for your case.
For this reason, you should have a criminal defense lawyer right from the beginning, as the moment you start talking with the police or prosecutor, your legal options start unfolding. Since you do not want simple mistakes or oversights ruining your chances of getting a better outcome for your case, a criminal defense lawyer should be a partner you take on as early as possible.
Better examination, collection, and representation of all evidence
The evidence collected and presented during a criminal trial is vital in determining the outcome of a case. With an experienced criminal defense lawyer, you will benefit from the backing of a professional who will carefully collect, examine, and represent the evidence for your case. Doing this gives you a better defense for your case and steers the way for a better outcome.
Remember, the rules of evidence presentation must be adhered to, and a seasoned criminal defense attorney in Atlanta makes this crucial phase even easier. The ability to apply tactics such as strategic cross-examination of witnesses can further aid your case.
Final Take
Regardless of why you are facing criminal charges, the services and expertise of experienced criminal defense attorneys are vital if you want to protect their best interests. Their knowledge of the criminal justice system and ability to present your case in the best light makes these professionals very valuable.Â
Luckily for you in Atlanta, Cumberland Law Group has a highly experienced team of criminal defense lawyers ready to take on your case.
Let our criminal defense attorneys in Atlanta help with your criminal case. Contact us today for a free consultation and professional legal assistance.